Battery post clamp



May 17, 1949. H. R. MARTIN BATTERY PosT CLAMP Filed April 2o, 1942 Hf?.Nav-Nn INV ENTOR.

f BY 0MM/@3% Patented May 17, 1949 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE 7 claims.1

This invention relates to battery connections and is more particularlyconcerned with a clamp or fastening means for securing a cable, adaptedto transmit electric current, to a post of a wet storage battery.

Perhaps the most unpleasant, laborious and despised minor taskencountered in the servicing of an automobile has heretofore been theremoving of the battery terminal post connections, an operationnecessary when interchanging batteries. The presently almost universallyaccepted clamp comprises a two jaw unit having a centrally locatedenlarged orifice for receiving the battery post. The extended ends ofthe jaws have registering horizontally disposed orifices for receiving athreaded and headed bolt adapted to receive a nut for pulling the jawstoward one another and into intimate contact with the post. When thebattery has been used for a considerable time, corrosion frequently sodecomposes the parts that the bolt and nut become frozen together tosuch an extent that it is almost impossible to loosen the nut. Also thejaws sometimes become securely attached to the bolt so that it isdiifcult to spread them even after the nut has been removed.

It is an object of this invention to provide a battery post clamp whichavoids the objections to such clamps heretofore known.

Another object of this invention is to provide a battery post clampwhich is easy to install and easy to remove.

Another object of this invention is to provide a clamp of the typereferred to which automatically locks itself in place upon installation.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a clamp which, wheninstalled, is under constant urge toward tighter contact.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide novel battery postclamp construction, generally.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a novel processfor producing a battery post clamp.

In general, my invention in its preferred form, comprises a U-shapedframe having a jaw slidable in opposed guides on the adjacent faces ofthe legs of the U. A resilient means, for example a spring, urges thesaid jaw toward the closed end of the U when the device is in operation,the battery post being situated between said closed end and said jaw. Acam mounted on the frame is provided at the rear of the resilient meansfor at times forcing said resilient means and said jaw toward thebattery post. The cam is manually operated by means of a lever and theconstruction is such that when said lever is moved in the releasingdirection its action is positive to Iwithdraw said jaw from the batterypost. The battery cable attaches to the aforsesaid frame.

In order that a clear and concise understanding of my invention may behad, reference should be made to the accompanying drawing forming a partof this specification in which Fig. 1 is a top plan View of oneembodiment of my invention, covered parts being shown in broken lines.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Referring now more specifically to the drawing, I have used the numeralI [I to designate the generally U-shaped frame or chassis of my clamp.Obviously, of course, the precise shape of the frame Ill is immaterialand it need not consist of a single unit. At the inner face of theclosed end II of the frame I0, as I have shown it in the drawing, Iprovide a plurality of relatively sharp protuberances or teeth I2adapted to tightly grip and even bite into a storage battery post, aswill appear more clearly hereafter. Cooperating with the teeth I2 toconfine and grip the battery post I3 is the jaw I4 which islongitudinally slidably mounted between the legs I5 and I6 of the frameI0. The operative face of the jaw I 4 is preferably knurled as at I1 orotherwise prepared to provide a relatively high friction surface. It isnot highly desirable, however, to provide sharp teeth on the jaw I4inasmuch as retraction or disengagement of the said jaw from the batterypost I3 may become undesirably difficult if it have teeth extendeddeeply into said battery post. Flanges I8 and I9 on the inner face ofthe leg I5, together with opposed flanges 20 and 2 I, on the inner faceof the leg I6 provide a guide for the longitudinal movement of the jaw I4. I have shown the bottom anges I9 and 2| as of sufcient width to atleast substantially meet one another whereby a bottom or closure isprovided. Parts 22 and 23 of the flanges I8 and 20 respectively, alsohave been shown to be sufciently extended that they meet each other toform a closure. While it is not at all essential that the top and bottomof my device be closed so far as practical, it is desirable from boththe point of view of appearance and from the point of view of protectingmoving parts of the device. To the rear of the jaw I4 and spacedtherefrom by the spring or other resilient means 24, is a .second member25 longitudinally slidably received in the guide structure on the innerface of the legs l5 and U5. As will become apparent as the disclosureproceeds, the guide structure receiving the plunger member 25 may beseparate and distinct from that receiving the jaw i4 rather than beingcontinuous therewith as shown in the drawing. The pring 24 is preferablyattached to the jaw I 4 at one end and to the plunger 25 at the other.In` the drawinglI,A have shown the fastening means to consist of loops26 and 2'! adapted to receive respectively, the end portions 28 and 29of the wire comprising the coil spring 24. By this constructionappreciable movement of the plunger 25 in either direction tends, tocause corresponding movement of the jaw I4,

For imparting motion to the plunger 25 a generally vertically extendingslot 3U is provided therein adapted to receive an actuating means suchas the cam or crankshaft comprising the bent arms or cranks 3|,v and 32which are opertively connected to the-lever structure designatedfgenerally bythe numeral 33. Bearings for cranks.

3| and 32' areprovided in the legs I5 and i6, re. spectively, at d'4 and35,. As isapparent, the drawing illustrates my clamp in. post engagingposition where it is held by the cranks 3l and: 3.2. Rotation ofthelever 33. upwardly causingl corresponding rotation ofcranks 3 ly and 32operates', first, to move. the plunger 2.5 forwardslightly due, in part,to the fact that the plunger engaging portions or'crankshafts of thecranks 3| and' 32 are below their` center of' rotation when in therelatively stable position shown. Thereafter, continued rotation of thecranks 3l and 32 above their center of rotation causes these cranks toengage the rear wall of' the slot 30, whereby the plunger 2'5', spring24 and jaw, I4: are moved rearwardly to a positionout of'engagementwith. the battery post i3. Conversely, rotation ofthe lever 33'downwardly from a generally upwardly extendingV position causes theIplunger engaging construction is preferable'ifor. the reason that itVprovides an automaticlock against accidental disengagement ofthe jaw. I4from the post I3 since bef-ore the crankshaft portions of` cranks 3L and3.2i can move. upwardly and rearwardly, it is necessary. as stated, thatthey move upwardly and;

forwardly which movement' must be against the very material resistanceoffthe spring 24; Rota-A tion ofy the cranks downwardly and rearwardlyfrom the position shown in Fig. 2V is, of course,

prevented by the flanges I19'and'2`|which preventV any downward movementof the. plunger 25. In the drawing I haveshown a'V cut-out 3'6 extendingforwardly from the slot Ell adjacent theY base thereof. While such.cut-out is not at' all essentialv to my invention, especially ifv othermeans for locking the jaw I4 in post engaging position be provided, itis a desirable feature forA addi!- tion'ally insuring against accidentalretraction of the jaw-springeplunger assembly. As appearsclearly in Fig.2 of the drawing, the crankshaft portions ofthe cranks 31 and:` 32 nestin the cutfnout portion 3B' andthe pressure ofthe springl 2.4. resistsdislodgement of said portions of said` cranksf-rom said cut-out,sincerin ordervforthe said? cranks; S-L and 3,12I to disengage thecut-out 36; forward movement: of. the-folungerf 215.- againstrtheicompression of said spring 24, is required. Obviously when a cut-outsuch as 35 is provided the distance which the plunger 25 must be movedforwardly by the upwardly rotating cranks 3l and 32 before said crankscan commence rotating upwardly and rearwardly is greater than in thecase where the plunger engaging portions of said cranks 3| and 32 areonly below their center of rotation when the jaw i4. is in post engagingposition. It willbe noted from scrutinizing Fig. 2 of the drawing, thatthe bearings 34 and 35 are shown as located slightly above the center ofthe depth of the frame lll. This arrangement is not essential', but itis desirable in that is permits greater incline of the cranks 3l and 32and also permits the lever 33 to be disposed in a substantiallly,`horizontal position without being undesirably close to the top of thebattery. If desired, protuberances 3l and 38 may be provided on theouter face of the closed end of the frame If'or'f'nrther insuringagainst accidental upward rotation.v ofthe leverf33. These protuberances31 and't-maybe ofany suitable nature, but they are preferably Rounded.or inclined in order to gradually spring the lever structure until ithas passedfthem. Obviously, one or-several protuberances may beemployed. If desired, the protuberanccs may be so arranged that some aredisposed below.A the lever 33' when the jaw I4 is in post engagingorforwardposition; In order to reduce the friction` of the plungerengaging portions of the cranks3l' andl against the walls of the slot Ihave provided a tubular member 39 about these portions of said cranksvwhich serves in the nature of' a roller bearing. This feature is, ofcourse, optional. Two or more tubes may be employed'in place ofy one.

At therear ofi the frame l0; I have shown, for illustrative purposes, asleeve 4! adapted to receive a battery cable and to be crimped securelythereabout. In order to facilitate the gripping of the.V cable by saidsleeve, I have provided on the inner periphery thereof, rifles 4l,whereby said sleeve-actually bites into said cable. Arms 42 and areprovided on the sleeve i9 for engagement with the rear end portions ofthe legs l5 and I6 of the frame lll'.v Any suitable means may beernployed in attaching said' arms to said legs; care should be taken,however, that a good electrical connection is provided between the two.In the drawing, Ihave shown lingers or returned anges 44 on the arms 42and 43 and 45 on the legs l5 and Iii for. engaging, respectively, saidlegs and said arms whereby the sleeve 4D and the frame l!) are securelyunited.

InV addition to its unique adaptness as battery postclampv forconnecting motor vehicle electric cables to wet storage battery posts,my device finds many other applications as a clamp and coupling; means.My novel process also may be employed to make devices to be used forother purposes thanbattery post clamps.

Among the numerous advantages of my novel clamp fis the fact that thejaw members always retain theirl original shape rather than beingthemselves bent and molded about the battery post; there is thus nocha-nce for failure of the jaws due to their internal breakdown afterhaving been bent back and forth a few times as frequently occurs in thecase of the common, presently well-known type ofV battery post clamp.Since-my device provides for an automatic and positive disengagement ofthel battery post, its removal from-the battery present no problem andthenecessityffor prying and'hammeringto loosen it, which operationsfrequently result in the severe damage or destruction of batteries whenstandard clamps are being removed, is avoided. By providing engagementof the post by the clamp at only two junctures, I avoid excessivecorros-ion and all unnecessary confinement of corrosion in contact withthe battery post and cla-mp parts. Again my device may be used withsuccessive cables and/or transferred 4from one cable to another, for thecable may be simply disengaged from the means connecting it to theclamp. Such is especially easy in the particular connecting means whichI have shown in the drawing where spreading of the slit in the sleeve 40and longitudinal retraction of the cable is all that is required. Theaction of the resilient means 24 is at least three fold: it providesadaptation means whereby my clamp may be employed on battery posts oflvarious sizes; it provides an engagement with the battery post which isunder constant urge toward more intimate contact so that any jar whichmight tend momentarily to loosen the connection to any extent whatsoeveris immediately and positively counteracted by the spring; further thespring operates in connection with the cranks in the slot 30 to maintainthe cla-mp in operative position as heretofore pointed out.

In the claims the term cam is intended to include cranks such as 3| and32 inthe drawing, together with standard cams and other devices adaptedto at times cause movement in at least one direction. Jaw is meant torefer to any device adapted to perform functions similar to those of theparts Il and I4 of the drawing. Plunger as used in the claims does notnecessarily require a solid construction or any other precise detailssometimes connected with a plunger in its strict sense; anyreciprocatable device adapted to perform functions similar, in a generalnature, to those of the member 25 is meant to be included.

While specific embodiments of my inventions together with certainmodifications thereof have been described in detail for illustrativepurposes, it is obvious that one skilled in the art will be able to makevariations, eliminations and modifications in the precise structuresdescribed and this without departing from the true spirit and scope ofmy invention. I wish, therefore, to be limited herein only by theappended claims.

I claim:

l. A battery post clamp comprising a frame having one of yits portionsextending generally right angular to another one of its portions, thelatter portion engaging one side of a battery post when in operativeposition, a battery post engaging jaw slidable along the first of saidframe portions toward and away from second said frame portion forengaging the opposite side of said battery post from that engaged 4bysecond said frame portion, a plunger also slidable along rst said frameportion having in its side wall structure an elongated cut-out disposedgenerally normal to the plane of said frame, a resilient connectionconnecting said jaw to said plunger, a crank having its crank shaftreceived in said cut-out for imparting motion to said plunger and havingits crank pin journaled in first said frame portion, and a leverconnected to said crank.

2. A battery post clamp comprising a frame having one of its portionsextending generally right angular to another one of its portions, thelatter portion engaging one Side of a battery lis Journaled in saidframe member is more adjapost when in operative position, a battery postengaging jaw slidable along the first of said frame portions toward andaway from second said frame portion for engaging the opposite side ofsaid battery post from that engaged by second said frame portion, aplunger also slidable along first said frame portion having in itssidewall structure an elongated cut-out disposed in the direction of thedepth of said plunger, which is also the direction of the depth of saidframe, said fout-out being enlarged at its base end in the direction ofthe forward end of said plunger and the top of said enlarged portionbeing inclined downwardly and forwardly from the forward wall of theunenlarged portion of said cut-out, a resilient connection connectingsaid jaw to said plunger, a crank having its crank pin journaled infirst said frame portion and having its crank shaft received in saidcut-out, the arrangement being such that the point at which said crankpin cent the unenlarged end of said cut-out, considering the depthdirection only, than is the enlarged end of said cut-out, and a leverconnected to said crank.

3. A battery post clamp comprising a frame having generally parallelmembers and a portion connecting said parallel members said latterportion engaging one side of a battery post when in operative position,guide structure on the adjacent faces of said parallel members, a jawslidably received in said guide structure and engaging the opposite sideof said battery post when in operative position, a plunger also slidablyreceived in said guide structure, having in its side wall structure anelongated cut-out disposed in the direction of the depth of saidplunger, which is also the direction of the depth of said frame, saidcut-out being enlarged at its base end in the direction of the forwardend of said plunger, and the top of said enlarged portion being inclineddownwardly and forwardly from the forward wall of the unenlarged portionof said cut-out, a resilient connection connecting said jaw to saidplunger, a crank having its crank pin journaled in one of said parallelframe members and having its crank shaft received in said cut-out, thearrangement being such that the point at which said crank pin isjournaled in said frame member is more adjacent the unenlarged end ofsaid cut-out, considering the depth direction only, than is the enlargedend of said cut-out, and a lever connected to said crank.

4. A battery post clamp comprising a frame having generally parallelmembers and a portion connecting -said parallel members, said latterportion engaging one side of a battery post when in operative position',a jaw longitudinally slidably mounted between said parallel members andengaging the opposite side of said battery post when in operativeposition, a plunger also longitudinally slidably mounted between saidparallel members having in its sidewall structure an elongated cut outdisposed in the direction of the depth of said plunger, which is alsothe direction of the depth of said frame, said cut-out being enlarged atits base end in the direction of the forward end of said plunger, andthe top of said enlarged portion being inclined downwardly and forwardlyfrom the forward Wall of the unenlarged portion of said cut-out, aresilient connection connecting said jaw to said plunger, a crank havingits crank pin journaled in one of said parallel frame members and havingits crank shaft received in said cut-out, the arrangement it being suchthat the point at which saidy crank pinv is journaled in` said.- framemember is more adjacent' the uneniarged end of said cutfout-consideringthedepth` direction only., than is the enlarged end', of said cut-out,and a lever connected to said crank.

5. A: battery: post clam-p comprising. a frameA having generallyparallelmembers and a portion connecting said-parallel members, saidlatter-portionl engaging one side of a battery :post when in operativeposition, a battery post engagingjaw slidably mounted betweenl saidparallel members forengaging theopposite side of saidbattery post, acrank jonrnaled on one of saidparallel members in a position such thatitsv crank shaft is spaced-,troni saidgjaw and is disposed to that endof4 said jaw which is opposite to that end thereof which engages saidbattery post, and' means inn cluding a coil spring connecting said jawto said crank shaft whereby partial rotation of said crank in onedirectionV causes. said jaw to engage said battery post and partialrotation of said crank inthe opposite direction causes it to disengagesaid battery post.

6. A battery post clamp comprising a frame having generally parallelmembers and a portion connecting said parallelmemherssaid latter portionengaging one sideof a battery-post when in operative position, a batterypost engaging jaw longitudinally slidably mountedv between said parallelmembersv for engaging the opposite side of said batterypost, a plungeralso longitudinally Slidably. mounted. between. said parallel membersspaced from said jaw and located in alignment therewith. to that endthereof which is opposite to. its battery post engaging end, saidplunger having an elongated cut-ont inI its side wall structure..disposed in the directionof the depth of said plunger, which is also thedirection of the depth of said frame, a. crank journaled on one of saidparallel frame members and having its crank shaft projecting into saidcut-out for reciproca'm ing said plunger, a lever connected to saidcrank for rotating thek same and a coil springV positively connectingsaid jaw tosaid plunger whereby reciprocation of the latter results inthe engagement and. disengagement of said battery post by saidjaw.

7. For a battery post clamp the combination comprising an elongatedframe section, structure connectedV to; said: frame, section` andengaging one. side of a .batt-ery' post when` in operative; posi-y tion,a member.' disposed to thel opposite4 side ofsaid` battery post` whenin, operative position andv reciprocatabl'e along.,` said frame section,said reciprocatablemember havingin its side wall structure an elongatedcut-out disposedin the direction. ofthe depth off said; reciprocatablemember',A which. is also the directionL of the depthof. said framesection and saidpost engaging structure,

said cut-out being enlargedI at its base endY in the` direction of theforward end. of. said reciprocatable member Aand the topof saidienlarged portion being inclined downwardly andl forwardly from' theforward wall of the unenlarged portion of' said'- cut-out.a'crank'havingits crank pin journaled. on said framesection and havingits crank shaft received insaid cut-out, the arrangement being such thatthe point at which said crank pin: is journaled irl-said frame sectionis more ad@ jacent the unenlarg-ed end of said cut-out, con-` sideringthe depth direction only', than is theenlarged.` endv of said. cuteout,and a lever connected to said crank.

HARRY R. MARTIN.

REFERENCES CITED.

The following references are of. record in` the le oi this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS :nbc: Name Date 1,015,096 Tait Jan. 15, 1912V15382386.41 Smith June 28, 1921` 1,648,326 Sawyer Nov. 8, 119272`137675903 Sparkes: June' 24, 1930 1,771,270.v Normingt-on July 22, 1930:10682452 Hanson Jan. 191193'7' 2,103,055I Biokley Dec. 211937'v Re.20,618 Douglas Jan. ll, 1938'y 2,110,918' ltoloerts` Mar. 15, 19382,168,250 Toiberg et al Aug. i, 1939: 2,190,363 Knapp Feb; 13; 194)2,2?t'r9'35v Lee-1 Mar. 25, 1941i 2,257-,0-13- Johnson Sept. 23', 1941FOREIGN PATENTS Number. Country Date 579,644` France Aug. 8, 1924:E

